Continuous dough sheeting and feeding mechanism.



K: D. LOOSE.

CONTINUGUS DOUGH SHEfTING AM) FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IA- 8, I915.

. e 5 u M R S m mm m flo E h a MD pg h A m 3 n 6 m \Jh 0 NW Q q\mkw ev & mm t e m E Q 1 7 w 9 m w 4 M 3 w 1 K. D. LOOSE. CONTINUOUS DOUGH SHEETING AND FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, I915.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

'! SKEETBfSKBBT Z.

WITNESSES K. D. LOOSE. CONTINUOUS DOUGH SH EETING AND FEE-DING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 8. I915.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915- 7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

//I/ I/E N TOR lien nethD.Loosc-,

BY QM r w y ATTORNEYS.

Q0, ww Um! I Q \Q 1 .QQ .nQ Q m 8 a E M 8 m w w W K D. LOOSE.

CONTINUOUS DOUGH SHEETING AND FEE DING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1915.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915* '1 BHEETSSHBIIT 4 00% um E @Q @Q g llllllllll 1! Q mum INVENTUR nneihfi.1:ooa e.

WITNESSES #1/ 4% A ORA/Ens.

K. D. LOOSE.

CONTINUOUS DOUGH SHEETING AND FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED m4. 8, 1915.

1,1 34,971 Patented Apr. 6, 1915 7 SHEETS-SHEET 5..

,4 TTOHNEYS.

K. D. LOOSE.

CONTINUOUS DOUGH SHEETING AND FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 8, I915.

Patenteol Apr. 6

l/VI/E/VTOR A 770 IVEYS.

TTWJ K. D, LOOSE.

cemmuous oouaw SHEETING AND FEEDiNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. 8,1915. 1 3% fill v Patented Apr. 6, 1915..

7 SHEETS-SHEET L dd/uf vaoi w MM Lawrence, Serial No. 832,397, filed April 16, 1914.

UNITED STATES T T OFFICE? KENNETH n. LOOSE, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To Loose-wines BISCUIT COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

coNTI'NUoUs DOUGH SHEETING AND. rnEnr e MEoHA IsM.

To all whom it may concern: i .Be it known. that I, KENNETH D. Loose,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bostomin the county of Suffolk and State-3, of Massachusetts, have invented an p provement in Continuous Dough Sheeting and Feeding Mechanism, of which the fol-ff lowing description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification,-

like characters on the drawings representing' like parts. I

This invention relates to mechanism for producing continuous sheets of dough for.

biscuits or like manufacture, -and. is an.improvement upon the mechanism disclosed in the co-pending applicationof Edward E.

- In order that the principle of the inventi011 may be readily understood, I have d1'sclosed a single embodiment thereof'in'the accompanying drawings, wherein:

.Figure 1 is' a side elevation of the right" hand or operating-side of a mechanism 0011-- stitutingone embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the left hand orv .driving side of the mechanism; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of-the mecha-. nism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front or receiving end view of the mechanism shown in F ig. 1; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a horizontal, longitudinal section on the line 6-45 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7

' the practice to prepare sheets of dough for biscuit cutting and like. machines by feeding a mass of dough between a single pair of rollers which are driven first in one and then in the opposite direction, so that the mass is brought into sheet form by being passed back and forth and therefore repeatedly between said rollers. Not only are two persons required to feed the sheet or layer back and forth until the proper thickness thereof is obtained, but such sheets are of comparatively short lengths, and in order to feed sheet-like material continuously to'the biscuit cutter or other machine, it has been necessary to lap the sheets, this having been Specification bf Letters rttiit,

. between the so -called gaging Two from the thiiiner' portions-of th henc'e either; the" thicker biscuitswereu'nden l baked, or 'ifthey; wereproperly baked, then.

I objections, I; have'ima is'a plan view of a portion of .the roller driving mechanism, the aprons or .belts being removed; and Fig.8 is a side ele- -ment of the constituents thereof.

inches.=. "hese lapped; sheets were.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915. Application-filed J'an'uary 8,1915, Serial No 1,211. I I l done icli'stomarilyat intervalsof aboutthirty the thinner'jbiscuitsjg were 11,.overbaked or] vention devised-improve cchanism wherew bylth'e dough,inassis 'fornied into a continu-' 011$; sheet, which-may be fed in an. indeter-j .fminate lengthgtotlie gaging rolls of'thebisc'ui'tcutting mechanism.- Referringmore particularly to the draw vings and first to the longitudinal-vertical section representedinFig. 3, ,Ihave therein. 1 indicated the framework metallic or other suitable side membersindi cated generally at 1 and connected in any burnt; an ordertqovercomethisI-and other dancewith my in? as composed of suitable manner and whereinthe various-'opcrating parts are mounted, For conven;

ience of description, I shall hereinafter refer to the receiving'end of'the apparatus as the front end thereof and end as the rear end thereof. I

Aspolnted out in said Lawrence applicato the delivery tion, wherein the mechanism forms a continuous sheet of dough by compression, certain doughs after compression contract and other doughs continue to. flow, this depends ing generally uponthe amount of sugar. A

dough containing a small proportion of. sugar generally contracts after compression,

and one containing a relatively high proportion of sugar generally expands or flows after compression. Such action of the dough is .herein termed generally a self-readjust- In order to secure such self-readjustment which must for best resultsbe effected before the biscuits are severed from the sheet, it is important that the dough sheet be freed from and preferably removed from the belt or belts "against which it was compressed, and" to which it has stuck during and incidental to such compression, so as'to prevent the selfreadjustment desired, and that it be delivered without breakageor deformationto another surface; As the continuous dough ferred may occur.

sheet passes from the belt against which it was compressed to the .next adjacent belt, which, as herein further disclosed, it does without deformation or breakage, it has its opposite faces free, and hence is in a condition in which such self-readjustment may which therecompressed sheet is transferred,

so that during the transfer and after the sheet is received by said fourth belt or apron further readjustment may occur. Obviously I this principle may be continued through an desired number of recompressions and rea justments of the material, but in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, I preferably provide for severing the biscuits from the dough pression;

sheet after such second. recom- In the disclosed embodiment of the inven tion, I have represented five belts or aprons.

indicated at A, B, C, D and E. The first of these belts indlcated at A is a conveyor belt, upon which the dough mass may be and preferably is placed by hand. The second belt or apron, indicated at B is a compressing belt, and it passes about a compressing roller 2, whereby said belt is driven. Above and sufiiciently spaced from the belt B is a co-acting, mass-compressing roll 3, which I shall generally refer to as a mass-compressing, traveling surface. The dough mass is compressed by the rolls 2 and-3 against the belt or apron B into a relatively thick sheet, such sheet sticking or adhering to the belt or apron in such manner that readjustment ofv the constituents of the dough sheet does not occur while the dough j sheet is upon said belt or apron B. Operatively in advance of the compressing belt B is a readjustment permitting belt or apron C,which is herein shown as having its portion toward the receiving end of the machine'underlying the deliveryportion of the belt B. This arrangement is, however, not essential to the broad purpose of my invention.

readjustment thereof commences and continues while the dough sheet is upon said belt or apron C, inasmuch as the lower sun face of the dough sheet does not stick or adhere to such belt or, apron O in the same sense in which it adhered to the belt or apron B, because of its compression thereagainst by the roll 3. Operatively in ad justment but I shall set forth As the dough sheet passes from the belt or apron B to the belt or apron C, the described selfvance ofthe belt or apron C is the belt or apron D, which is the second compressing surface. Supported within the same is a roll 4, by which the said belt 'or apron is driven and constituting with said belt or apron a compressing surface. Seated above and sufliciently spaced from the belt or apron D is a co-acting compressing roll 5, which is preferably spaced a less distance from the belt or apron 1) than the roll 3 is spaced from the belt or apron B, in order further to reduce the thickness of the sheet. While I may sever the sheet or remove the biscuit pertions therefrom, while the same is supported upon the belt or apron D, 1 preferably efiiect a second readjustment of the constituents of the sheet, and for this purpose provide a belt or apron E operatively in advance of the belt orapron D, and to which the record pressedsheet is transferred without deformation or breakage. Inasmuch as the sheet is compressed by the roll 5 against the belt D, it has a tendency to stick or adand therefore it has not at such time opposite free faces, so that readjust ment of the constituents of-the sheet cannot occur. During the' transferofthe sheet to or apron here thereto,

. the belt or, apron E and after its receptien by the belt or apronE, the second self read of the constituents of the sheet eccurs. Within the scope of my invention, Ll. may provide for one or more further cornpressions, and one or more further readjustmentsof the constituents v preferably I employ some suitable biscuit cutting or like device mounted above the 'belt' or apron E, and not herein shown, ,which severs biscuit portions from the sheet while supported upon the said belt or apron elements when severed, maintain their true form, without shrinkage or expansion.

VVhile I may drive the said belts A, B, C, D and E in any suitable mannpr for effecting the objects of invention, 2 pref- Ti erably drive said belts at successively increasing speeds through separate mechanisms or trains of devices, so that the speed of-each belt may be varied through an extended range, and if'desire-d withoutvarying the speed of any other belt. The particular driving means may be widely varied, detail the specific driving means in the disclosed embodiment ofymy invention, and which i have in 4 practice to produce excellent results.

Power may be'taken from any source and thence conveyed to the sprocket chain 6, which 1 passes aboutand drives a sprocket gear 7 ast upon a shaft 8 suitably.

mounted in the framing of the machine.

Ilpon the shaft 8 are splined two cones 9, 10,

supporting a driving'belt 11 also passing about a second pair of cones 12, 1'3, splined upon a shaft is suitably mounted in the E. Owing to said readjustments, the biscuit ii of the sheet, but ioo l suitable .frame. Said cones are provided with hubs or sleeves to which are suitably connected levers 15, 16, pivoted at 17, l8,upon suitable I studs on a girder or other transverse memher 1 9. -Each of said levers 15, 16 at one end is provided withfa nut 20,-1nounted respectively upon" the right and left hand -threads 21, 22 of a suitable screw shaft 23,

. which may be turned in any suitable man- 7 10 7 members of said pair of conestoward and from each other, and thus to vary the speed of the shaft 14; Upon the shaft 14 is a pinion 23 (see Fig. 6) and meshing therewithis a alarge gear 27upon the shaft28 of the com pressing roll 4, and by which the latter is drive the belt D. Co-acting with the belt .I), if desired, I provide a belt tightener 29 and the said belt at its delivery end passes '-directly under theup'per run of the belt D .soas tooooperatewith the roll 4 for eflecting the-recompressionof the sheet. In the manner'described, or in any other suitable V manner, the said belt or apron D is driven '1. -30 jat a speed which maybe yaried-throughan any event preferably-is greater than that of the beltor apron w supported shaft 35.=--.Upon ithe-shaft '35 are "mg about a sprocketgear 48 upon ashaft shaft 50 (shown-most clearly in Fig. 7) and liupon/said shaftare suitably splined cones 51, 52, 53, 54, about whichipasses a belt a and with which coiiperate' levers56, 57. ad 0 :jnsted: in "a" manner similar to that already a s5, described, by the oppositely screw-threaded manner; the -shaft 5O is driven. atg'a variable "wspeed Y. Upon one end of theshaft 50 is a pinion meshing withna gear 61 upon a shaft 62 suitably mountedin-the framing and having'thereon a inion 63 meshing'with a gear 64 upon the aft 165 having fast thereon a ner, as by hand wheel 24, so as to move the gear 24 upon a suitably supported shaft 25. Upon said shaft is apinion 26 meshing with driven at a suitable speed so as properly to abouta rolltor other suitable support 30. Preferably I-provide a plate or support 31 extended rangeof movement, but which in Upon the shaft 8..is a sprocket pinion32' receiving. a sprocket. chain 33 passing about a suitable sprocket gear'34iup'on a suitably-i1" 1 suitably supported in the framing of the machine; Adjacent to the shaft 49' is a roll 66 about which passes the belt or apron C, whereby saidbelt orvapronis driven at a variable speed, and preferably as described .at a speed intermediate thatof thebelts B and D. Said belt jOI' apron O is, suitably supported by rolls or guides 67,68, 69,and

belt tightener 70"and preferably is provided v with; a fiat support 71. v Cooperating with the belt: or apronC'is, a suitable spring pressed roll 72 by which the belt or. apron --G is heldin driving engagement withthe- Uponfthe shaft a pinion 73 meshing a speed between those of" the aprons A-and a C, The beltv or apron B is. suitably supportedby a 1 01179 and a roll or support 80, the'latter beingimounted in bearing blocks -81 mounted in 'suitableguides 82 for ad-' I gjustmentby lsuitable set screws, 83. Prefv f of the apron 'B overlaps the receiving end of t j --the belt orJapronQG," so that the dough sheet is discharged with a slight downward move" ment from; the belt or'apron B to the, belt or' j apron-O. This permits the commencement f of the readjustment 5 of '1 the constituents of.

erably andI-as described, the "discharge end the dough sheet as heretofore set forth. Al'so'ffast upon the 'shaft 15,1571; sprocket pinion '84.;receiving.afsprocket'chain 85 also .f

passing"; about 211* sprocket y pinion 186 upon-s shaft 87.. 1 Adjacent to. the shaft 'lis ash'aft v88 and-u -..saidshafts are suitably sphned ":cones' 89, '90,'- 91. .and" 92,rsimilan to-those a1;-

ready described-andiiiieceivingbeltf93'. I:

With said cones eoas emte levers "94; as sea "an oppositely :screW-threaded-shafh 96,hav-'- ing a handwheel s97,'f whereby! the speed of rotation-of the shaft 88 maybe variedLt' f:

I Fast upon the shaft'88 is a sprocket pin l m ion 98 about which and a similar pinion 39- upon a shaft 100 passes a sprocket chain;

101. Upon'said shaft 100 is a pinion 102 "meshing with a gear 103 upon the shaftl04 of a 10111105, by which the belt A is driven at a variable speed. I preferably provide a spring pressed'roll 106 to hold the belt A in drivingcontact with the roll?.' 94. 5; I also-1F, v preferably provide a roll or. support107 for said apronandabeIt-tightener 108. I'

preferably also provide a .flat support-169 :beneath the'upper run of the belt A;

shaft 158havingera-hand vwheel '59;- In the l manner 'described, or any othersuitablezr sprocketch'ainfis Preferably, however, the

Theybelt or iapron E may be driven iri'any suitable manner; and if desiredfrom the saidbeltjorapron is driven from a shaft 110 receiving power from. some OlItSIdG SOHICG,

not herein-indicated. Upon the shaft *110 40 cocperate worms 136, 137 upon shafts 138,

about cones 112, 113 upon a shaft 114. By

means of suitable levers 116, 116, shown broken away in Fig. 6, the said shaft 114 is driven at a variable speed in a manner similar to that already described. Upon the shaft 114 is a pinion 117 meshing with a gear 118 upon a shaft 119 and having thereon a pinion- 120, itself meshing with a pinion 121 upon a shaft 122 of the roll 123 about which passes the belt or apron E .and whereby the latter isdriven at a variable speed, but preferably at a speed in excess of that of the belt or apron D. The said belt or apron E is preferably of much greater length than any of the aprons A, B, C and D, but is shown as broken away in Fig. 3. The said belt or apron is supported by the roll or guide 124, and with it coiiperates a belt tightener 125 and a spring pressed roll 126, by which the said belt or apron is held in driving engagement with the roll 123. Beneath the upper run of the belt or apron E, I preferably provide a flat'support 127. Cotiperating with the belt or apron E is a suitable biscuit cutting device by which the biscuit elements are severed from the sheet, the remaining portions of the sheet being separated from the biscuit elements in any suitable manner in the onward travel of the parts.

The compressing rolls which are mounted for sliding adjustment in guides 130, 131 supported upon the framing of the mechanism. In order to adjust said blocks, I preferably provide threaded shafts 132, 133, one of which, namely, shaft 133, is represented upon an enlarged scale in Fig. 8. Upon the upper ends of said shafts are worm Wheels 134, 135 with which 1.39 having .thereon hand wheels 140, 141. In'this manner the distance apart of the compressing rolls 2 and 3 and the compressing rolls 4 and 5 may be accurately varied.

Preferably I provide some suitable means whereby to indicate for record the -distance apart of the rolls of said pairs of rolls. For this purpose, I have most clearly repre sented in Fig. 8, a scale 142 upon a suitable frame 143 with which cotiperate a pointer 144 pivoted at 145 upon said frame and connected to-a threaded member 146 connected at 147 to the proper block 128 or 129. I preferably provide means for varying the length of the screw thread member 146, here shown as a turn buckle-148. In this manner, the. arm 144 is moved over the scale 142 in accordance with the adjusting movement of the block 128 or 129. Preferably each of the compressing rolls 2 and 4 is provided with a flange 149, 150, which define the lateral edges of the dough sheet.

lVith certain doughs, it is. desirable to pass aprons about the upper compressing 3 and 5 are 'mounted in suitable blocks 128, 129 respectively,.

rolls 3 and 5, and for this purpose I have, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, represented standard 151, 152- respectively having arms 153, 154, 155, 156, whereon are mounted guides 157, 158,159, 160 about which belts (not shown) may be passed. The guides 158, 160 may be adjusted by screws 1 61, 162, so as suitably to tension such belts.

The roll 3 constitutes a mass-compressing, traveling surface, and between it and the belt or apron B, the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form. The succeeding belt C is a non-compressing, readjustmentefi'ecting belt or apron onto which the continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by the belt B, and on each succeeding belt C the constituents of the said dough sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves. without compression. The continuous readjusted sheet is directly delivered by the belt or apron C onto the belt or apron D and a bonding, traveling surface, herein represented by the compressing roll C, co-acts'with the belt or apron D,to compress said selfadjusted dough sheet thereon. I

It will be observed that the belts B- and G extend past the rolls 3 and 5 respectively toward the delivery end of the mechanism, and so as to support the dough sheet without breakage or deformation past the compressing rolls 2, 3 and 4, 5 respectively.

Having thus described one specific ememployed they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of liniitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims: i

1. Continuous dough sheeting and feeding mechanism comprising in combination a mass-compressing traveling surface, a coacting traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and said mass compressing surface the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form, a succeeding belt onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-acting belt and on which succeeding beltthe constituents of said continuous dough sheet are per- .bodim'ent of my invention, I desire it to be ,understoodthat although specific terms are on which succeeding. belt the 'constituents of said continuous dough sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves, another belt onto which the continuous, re-

adjusted sheet is directly delivered by said second belt, a bonding travelingsurface c'oacting with said'third belt to compress said,-

se'lf readjusted dough sheet thereon, and a fourth belt onto which the continuous sheet is directly deliveredby said third belt and mitted to 'readjustitself. i 4

3. Continuous dough. sheeting and feeding whereon said continuous sheet is again'permechanism comprising in combination, amass-compressing, traveling; roll, a co-acting, traveling belt opposed theretofland between which and said mas's compressing' roll Y the dough is compressedinto sheet form, a

"succeeding belt onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-acting belt and on which succeeding belt the constituents of saidcontinuous dough selves, another belt onto which the con-.

sheet are permitted freely'toreadjust themtinuous, readjusted sheet is directly delivered by said second belt,and a traveling, bonding, roll co-acting' with said belt to compress said self-readjusted dough sheet.

4. Continuous dough sheeting-and feeding mechanism comprising in combination, a mass-compressing, traveling roll, a co-acting, traveling belt oppo'sed thereto and between which and said mass-compressing roll the dough is compressed into sheet form, a

succeeding belt onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by said coasting belt and on which succeeding belt the constituents "of said continuous dough.

' sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves, another belt' onto which the continuous, readjusted sheet is directly de livered by said second belt, a traveling,

I bonding roll co scting with said belt to said belt and by which the same isdriven,

a succeeding belt onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered bysaid coacting belt and on which succeeding belt the constituents of said continuous dough sheet are permitted freely to readjustthemselves, another belt onto which the continuous, readjusted sheet is directly delivered by said second belt, a compression roll supported within said belt and by which the same is driven, acting 'with 'saidthird belt to compress said self-readjusted doughsheet, i

u 6. Continuous-dough sheeting and feeding mechanism comprising in combination, a1

mass-compressing, traveling v roll,- a co-actnd'e o nsi a i g sil ifi s cting, traveling belt op po'sed thereto, and between which and said mass-compressing roll the doughiscompressed;into sheet form, a

, and by which thesame is driven, a succeed ing belt ontoiwhich 'said continuous doughsheet "ishdirec'tly, delivered by-said .co acting.

belt and on whichsucceeding belt the eon I stituents of 'saiducontinuous dough. sheet, are; permittedfrcely to readjust themselves, another beltv onto Whichthe continuous, re

adjusted sheet. is directly, delivered 1 by said second belt, a t-compression roll supported within said belt and bywhich the SalllQlS driven, and a bonding, traveling roll oo-actcompression roll supported within said belt.

mgiwith said third belt to compress said-- self-readjusted doughsheet.

7. Continuous dough sheeting and feed mg mechanism comprisingin combination,

a mass-compressing, ltravelingyroll, .a co" acting, traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and said mass-compressing roll the dough is compressed into sheet.

form, a compression roll supported within said belt and by which the same is'driven,

a succeeding belt onto which said continw one dough sheet is directlydeliveredby 1 belt the constituents of said continuous said co-acting belt and on which succeeding dough sheet, are permitted freely to read 311st themselves, a rollwithinsaid succeed-f ing belt and by Whichthe sanieie driven,

another belt onto which the continueus,readjust-ed sheet is directly delivered by said second belt, a compression roll supported Within said belt and by which the same-is driven, anda bonding, traveling roll co-uacting with said third. belt to compress and self-readjusted dough sheet. l l

8. Continuousdough sheeting and feeding mechanism, comprising in; combination, a mass-compressing, traveling'roll, a eo-acting, traveling belt opposed thereto and-between which and said mass-compressing roll the dough is compressed into sheet form, a compression roll supported within said belt and by which thesame is driven, a succeed ing belt onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly-delivered bysaid co-acting stituents of said continuous dough sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves, a.

roll within said 'suceeding belt and by which the same is driven, another'belt onto which the continuousreadjusted sheet is di delivered by said second-belt, a comp? roll supported within said belt and by v hi the same is driven, a bonding traveling r co -acting with said third belt to eern g w belt and on Whichsucceeding belt the saidself-readjusted dough sheet, a fourth belt onto which the continuous sheet is dibetween which and said mass-compressing,

surface the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form, a succeeding belt traveling in the same forward direction as said first belt and onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly deliveredby said coacting belt and on which succeeding belt the constituents of said continuous dough sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves, another belt traveling in the same forward direction as said first and second belts and onto which the continuous, readjusted sheet is directly delivered by said second belt, and a bonding, traveling surface coacting with said third belt to compress said self-readjusted dough sheet.

10. Continuous dough sheeting and feed-' ing mechanism-comprising in combination, a mass-compressing, traveling surface, a-comg mechamsm comprising In combination,

acting, traveling belt opposed thereto, and between which and said mass-compressmg surface the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form, a succeeding belt traveling in the same forward direction as said first belt and onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by said c0- acting belt and on which succeeding belt the constituents of said continuous dough sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves, another belt traveling in the same forward direction as said first and second belts and onto which the continuous, readjusted sheet is directly delivered by said second belt, a bondin traveling surface coactingwith said third belt to compress said self-readjusted dough sheet, and a fourth belt also traveling in the same forward direction as said preceding belts and onto which the continuous sheet is directly delivered by said third belt and whereon said continuous sheet is again permitted to readjust itself.

11. Continuous dough sheeting and feeding mechanism comprising in combination, a mass-compressing, traveling surface, a co-acting, traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and said mass compressing surface the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form, a succeeding belt onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-acting belt and on which succeeding belt the constituents of "aid continuous dough'sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves, another belt onto which the continuous, readjusted sheet is directly delivered by said second belt, a bonding, traveling surface coacting with said third belt to compress said self-readjusted dough sheet thereon, and means to drive said belts at successively higher speeds.

12. Continuous dough sheeting and feeding mechanism comprising in combination a mass-compressing, traveling surface, a coacting, traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and said mass-compressing surface the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form, a succeeding belt onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-acting belt and on which succeeding belt the constituents of said continuous dough sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves, another belt onto which the continuous, readjusted sheet is directly delivered by said second belt, a bonding, traveling surface co-acting with said third belt to compress said self-readjusted dough sheet thereon, a fourth belt onto which the continuous sheet is directly delivered by said third belt and Whereon said continuous sheet is again permitted to readust itself, and means to drive said belts at successively higher speeds.

13. Continuous dough sheeting and feeda mass-compressing, traveling surface, a c0- acting. traveling belt opposed thereto and be- I tween which and said mass-compressing surface the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form, a succeeding belt onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-acting belt and on which succeeding belt the constituents of said continuous dough sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves, another belt onto which the continuous, readjusted sheet is directly delivered by said second belt, a bonding,

traveling surface co-acting with said third belt to compress said self-readjusted dough sheet thereon, means to drive said belts at successively higher speeds, and means to vary the speed at whicheach of said belts is driven. i

1 14. Continuous dough sheeting and feeding mechanism comprising in combination, a mass-compressing, trave i acting traveling belt opposed thereto and between which and said mass-compressing surface the dough is compressed into sheet form, a succeeding belt onto which said continuous dough sheet is directly delivered by said co-acting belt and on which succeeding belt the constituents of said continuous dough sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves, said co-acting, traveling belt having its delivery end overlapping but close to said succeeding belt and positioned to permit a slight, free, downward movement of the dough sheet without breakage ng surface, a 00- I continuous,

' between or deformation, another belt onto which the readjusted sheet is directly delivered by said second belt, and a bonding, traveling surface co-acting with said third belt to compress said self-readjusted dough sheet.

15(Continuous dough sheeting and feeding mechanism comprising in combination, a mass-compressing, traveling surface, a coacting,

Which and said mass-compressing surface the dough is compressed into continuous sheet form, a traveling, dough massreceiving belt positioned to present the dough mass to said bonding, face andv co-acting traveling belt, a succeeding belt onto which said continuous dough traveling belt opposed thereto and traveling sursheet is directly belt and 'on which succeeding belt the constituentsof said continuous dough sheet are permitted freely to readjust themselves, an other belt onto which the continuous, readjusted sheet second belt, and a bonding, coacting with said third belt to compress said self-readjusted dough sheet thereon.

In testimony whereof, Ifhave signed my traveling surface is directly delivered by said delivered-by said co-acting I name to this. specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

"IKENNE TH D. LOOSE. 

